Alicia’s POV:And then came the words I didn’t expect to hear from Acker.“I will be leaving the country for a while, and so will Serrano,” he said as though he were concluding some business meeting.I blinked… slowly while my brain processed his words. As it did, there came a vastly unpleasant feeling crawling up my throat and threatening to choke me.“What?” I asked aloud as if it would change what I had just heard.Acker must have not heard me, because he continued, “In the meantime, our men will look after you. They are under orders to follow your commands-““No, wait wait.” I raised my two hands and he instantly quietened, but not before giving me a warning glare which I didn’t pay any attention to, of course. “You’re leaving?” My voice softened.Mikael stepped forward, still holding my picture frame in his hand. “There are some things that have to be done, marina. And they can’t be done here.”I could see the agreement in their postures, and knew that they had jointly decided th
Alicia’s POV:Damn it.My breathing was heavy and I leaned against the tree to steady it. Sweat rolled down my face as I took in deep breaths and exhaled them slowly as best as I could until my racing heart began to slow down.“This is so damn hard,” I mumbled to myself, right in the cusp of dawn.The trail I was in was close to my apartment and I had taken to jogging on it every day. Though I enjoyed it sometimes, there were times like this that reminded me of how long I spent being totally unfit.There was a chill in the air and I shivered as a breeze washed over me.Making a mental note to bring my jacket from now on, I began the slow walk back to my apartment.Though the sun had risen by then, there weren’t a lot of people on the streets, so I plugged in my headphones and Enjoyed a bit of music. I was going to make mental notes for today, thinking of the one college class I had to go to as well as a volunteering gig I got the previous day.My deal is looking up. I paid no attentio
Alicia’s POVThe car was silent and I tried to not fidget as I heard Cross’ finger tapping on the steering wheel as he drove the short distance to my apartment.“So little girl,” Cross started up the conversation even though I didn’t want to hear a thing from him. I didn’t want to be here, I didn’t even want to remember he existed. “How has college been?”“What does that have to do with you?” I blurted that out seemingly without care.If he wasn’t going to hurt me then a little comment like that wouldn’t hurt me right?I heard his chuckle which made me turn to look at him briefly.“You have a sharp tongue when you know you’re not in danger, girl. You should watch yourself. You never know,” his Italian lilt gave me shivers, not because they reminded me of Mikael’s, but due to the underlying threat hiding beneath his words.Watch yourself, or I will hurt you, he was basically saying.How far away had I walked again? Weren’t we supposed to be teaching the apartment by now?“I’m just aski
Alicia’s POVThe buzzing of my phone was what woke me up in the middle of the night and I opened my eyes to the blurry sight of my pillow, darkness, and a light from afar.It took me more than a couple seconds to come to my senses and I yawned a little before raising my head at the buzzing phone.Then, it stopped.My curiosity was piqued once I inched my hand closer to the phone and picked it up from the wireless charging port on my nightstand (something I didn’t know existed in my bedroom until a rather fortuitous accident a couple of days ago).It was 12.37am.So why would I be getting calls?As if to Answer the unspoken question, the phone once again began to vibrate in my hand. Another call coming through.I stared at the phone for a moment.Who was ‘The Love of My Life’? I didn’t save this number, nor did I know who it might be.I pursed my lips. Should I answer or not?The call went on for another couple of seconds before I finally made my decision and swiped the green button on
Mikael’s POV I miss you.Fuck.She had clearly not meant to say that. Perhaps I should let it go?My thoughts were, as usual for me recently, drawn towards that girl again. Alicia Stevens. Or rather, Alicia Duncan.It was a frustrating thread of thought that wouldn’t end, no matter how much I tried to. That girl, who was rightfully my property(and Madden’s too but I wouldn’t think about the British Don anytime soon), had consumed my every thought whenever I was not busy with work.Distracting me.Confusing me.Right now, even in Italy, in the heart of my work, I was distracted by thoughts of her.It had been over two weeks since I had seen her and I thought I would be rid of the strange desires by now. But no. It wouldn’t fucking stop.“Porco cane,” i muttered under my breath lest my chauffer hear my frustrated tones. “Mi hai fatto qualcosa.”Her soft admission of missing me during the call just earlier this morning was driving me mad. It had slipped out and I knew it. I had been sur
Alicia’s POV“Thanks, bye,” I waved at the manager as I closed for the day. It was my first day at work. I had finally caved and gotten a job closer to my college. It was a part time job, but still quite nice to have something else to do other than study and lounge around in the apartment all day.My phone sat in the pocket of my leather jacket as I refrained from calling Dominic or any of the other men to pick me up. I had shown up to the small cafe without my car, not wanting to make a bad first impression.Lingering on the side of the pavement for a second, I pondered on what I should take: taxi or bus?I still had my bus pass from the times I used it religiously to get to my former job so I quickly made the decision and began to walk down to where I remembered the nearest bus stop to be.“Oh, Alicia, is that you?” I heard a familiar voice that stopped me in my tracks a couple of meters from the bus stop.I turned around, my lips parting as I saw my best friend… or rather, my forme
Acker’s POV“Javier, report,” my voice was akin to steel as I talked with my one and only friend.“Relax, Acker,” Javier sounded calm and I could hear the sounds of cars passing by his location as he replied to me. “I have been keeping an eye on her since I arrived. And none of the men have seen or heard from Cross either.”I grit my teeth, squaring my jaw.That wasn’t enough.It was only last night that I got the word that Cross Serpenti was back in the US. He had hidden away and scurried from the States after his manipulative tactic to hit back at Serrano and myself using Castro. When that hadn’t worked, clearly he was back for more.The flight attendant placed the glass of wine on the table in front of me and I stared at the red fragrant liquid, decidedly angered that I had made the wrong decision.I had not even contacted Alicia after I had left, thinking it would be a distraction to me.My fingers tapped on the armrest of my chair and I turned to glance at the clouds. This high u
Alicia’s POV The professor droned on like a robot programmed to make everyone fall asleep.Looking around me I could see he had been successful.I however was paying rap attention, although I didn’t speak. I was more of a non-participant in this lecture which was on an elective I chose to take.“This fucking blows,” one student next to me whispered in the loudest voice I could adequately call a whisper. “When’s this class ends again? Has he taken attendance?”“Dunno.” The guy’s friend shrugged.I ignored the noise about me and focused on taking the meager notes that I was capable of at that moment.For most of them, being in college was a no-brainer, yet I hadn’t a chance of getting admission if I didn’t have the help of Acker and Mikael. So I wasn’t planning on slacking in any way. It was my way of proving that o belonged here no matter what anyone thought or said.Daya’s sneering face flashed in my head, and I exhaled sharply. I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about the horrible
Mikael’s POVShe was being way too quiet.I eyed Alicia out of the corner of my eyes, gazing worriedly at her as she sipped at her coffee.She had returned a little earlier in the morning the previous day, I recalled. And she was more somber than her usual self.Where had she gone?The question was pushed to the back of my mind as Dante began to cough, likely as a result of some water going down the wrong pipe. I reached for a napkin and made to stand up from my chair, but Alicia was blessedly faster, and she grasped our son’s chin gently while patting his back.“There there,” she murmured softly. I relaxed at the warmth in her voice. She was fine. Perhaps she just needed some space like Madden liked to insist on.Leaning back into the chair I observed her, my mind full of thoughts of her. She had been acting this way ever since Madden and I had fucked her. Was that the reason why?Regardless, there was nothing I could do by wondering.My phone vibrated in my trouser pocket and I glan
Alicia’s POVMy dream was of a house in the countryside, somewhere where the sun was nice and warm yet not too hot. I played in the meadow with my two sons, like I was in a fairytale. Suddenly dark clouds filled the sky and my vision went static. Rain began to fall.~Buzz~~Buzz~I winced, shaking my head and only a little aware of the dream fading from my mind.My eyes were unbelievably bleary and my limbs heavier than I’d expect after a good night's sleep.Opening my eyes after another second, I saw darkness only broken by the little light from my phone.Someone was calling.With a soft grunt I reached for the phone which continued to vibrate as it rang.‘Safehouse,’ the caller ID said.Noticing the time to be only 12.13am, I inhaled sharply. This had to be important.Immediately the sleep cleared from my eyes and I answered the call.“What is it?” I demanded to know.“Good you’re up,” it was Matt’s friend breathing heavily over the phone. He didn't sound too happy.“I was asleep,”
Alicia’s POV “Holy shiiiiit,” I hissed with pleasure, my eyes rolled back. My legs parted wider as Mik’s slick, thick manhood thrust in and out of me in a beautiful deep rhythm. It HAD been a long time; no one could blame me. I lost myself in another series of moans, feeling hands all over my body. “Be careful,” Acker warned, and I wasn’t sure who he was warning in my sex-addled brain until I realized Mik was chuckling as he moved his hips to mine. “You don’t want me to break her in for you, Madden? Don’t worry, I’m sure she’ll be the same by the time you’re up.” I heard something that sounded like a curse come from Acker but I didn’t care. Despite both men bickering, they were incredibly focused on one thing and one thing only: me. I had long lost track of where I was. We had moved from room to room like horny teenagers and now, I was in a chair, or a desk, or wherever. All I knew was that my hands and hair were held back by Acker as I took Mik’s cock like a good girl. Hands
Alicia’s POV “She is right here.” I replied loudly to the man that was speaking to someone whom I neither knew nor cared to know, making my presence known at the party entrance. As if by a spell all eyes turned to me, and I took advantage of the spotlight. I knew exactly how I looked. I had taken my time all weekend to clean up my looks to make sure I wouldn’t appear too shabby as Ash’s and Dante’s mother. I was practically the most desired woman to be in terms of position, having the children of two of the most powerful Dons in the world. And I was going to enjoy it. The spotlight wasn’t usually what I searched for but I reveled in it now, a dark glee in my heart as Mikael and Acker’s eyes were like flames burning my skin. The glittering red gown I had chosen was fired to my body, held up only by spaghetti straps with pearls as an accent. My hair was up in a stylish updo and showed off my neck and décolletage, which spotted a lovely necklace I picked for myself with care. In al
Acker’s POV“Make sure it is done. No excuses this time. And use another supplier if this one doesn’t make things according to our requirements,” I cut off one of my executives before he could go on another rant during our call. I was already fed up and late for a very important engagement - picking up my sons from the house to attend their birthday party.Unbuttoning my shirt with one hand while I walked into my home office to grab the box I had left there wrapped and ready for tonight, I noticed Javier was seated on the armchair close to my desk, and giving me a serious look.I ended the call and sighed heavily. I hated handling business sometimes. It was easy work in theory but human beings and bureaucracy could make every little thing difficult.“You clearly haven’t gone for a shower yet,” Javier helpfully pointed out, tutting in a manner that was exasperated. “You still have paint on your face.”My jaw ticked.“I’m well aware of that, Javier. Thanks for pointing out the obvious.”
Alicia’s POVThe party hadn’t occurred yet and it already gave me a headache. My scowl prominent, I listened to the chef and event planner - Duran, what an odd surname, I thought absently - as they discussed the event.“Whatever you have to decide, so it with their fathers," I stated when I could get a word in. I wanted nothing to do with this or them or this farce of a damn party that was forced on me.The pair glanced at each other wide-eyed and I didn’t wait for a response, instead storming off to my room for some much needed alone time. Slamming the door shut down othbeicj force that the walls shook, I let out an agonized yell.“I hate them both,” I hissed through my teeth. Why did it feel like the entire world was against me? I sat in the edge of the bed recalling Andy’s discussion with me earlier.2 hours ago:I was furious, seeing red. Hardly able to contain myself.“Alis, wait,” Andy called, her footsteps fast paced. I whirled about to face her.“You TOLD them about the boys’
Mikael’s POVMy hands clenched and unclenched, while my mind struggled to make sense of the report that the police commissioner gave me mere seconds ago. My blood was effectively boiling.How could this have happened right under our noses? For the girl, the only connection we had at this crucial time to my bastard half-brother, to escape like that… I couldn’t fatho it for the life of me.Madden turned to Alicia, his signature cool and collected veneer on full display as he replied, “This is not the time to discuss such things. You should focus on your breakfast love.”Endearment aside I thought he had the right idea. We shouldn’t talk about this when the children were around, no matter how urgent it seemed to be.“And the party,” Ashford piped up in the wake of Madden’s words which made his mother whip her head around to stare at him unblinkingly“What party exactly?” Alicia sounded confused, tired and— was that relief I heard in her voice?“Our birthday party!” Dante too the opportun
Alicia’s POV Two days later: Tonight was the night. 10:47 pm. My room was dark but I could still spot the letters on the alarm clock, glowing distinctly. I sat up on the bed, checking my phone every couple of seconds as though that would make a difference. I had to be patient. Because tonight, Daya would escape police custody. Matt had been of more help than I had previously anticipated and he had sent one of his ‘good friends’ skilled at evading law enforcement to pick Daya up. While I wished I could be there myself to see it going on, I knew it would be next to impossible. Mikael, for one, would notice that I had left the house. The sound of footsteps drawing close to my door alerted me. Damn it. I was supposed to be asleep! Feigning a stomach ache in order to leave the dinner table early had its drawbacks. Swiftly I pulled the covers up, hiding my phone underneath the blanket and laid down, turning my head to the side and closing my eyes. The door opened, and multiple foots
Mikael’s POV “Whatever, it’s none of my business,” she had said. Yet even as she said that she appeared the opposite. Her posture was rigid, her lips drawn into a scowl that looked more appealing than it did intimidating. Honestly I’d never met a woman so stubborn in my life and perhaps that’s why I fell in love with her. Against my better judgement, of fucking course. I had no issues playing this game of hers. “Alright,” I responded lightly. “Just making it known. You should have your breakfast.” “I think I’ve lost my appetite,” Alicia’s words were just as cutting as I expected, and she huffed, her shoulders shrugging as she turned around to walk out of the living room. In a dizzying instant I saw her stumble, and I reached to grasp her by the waist and pulled her closer as her knees buckled under her. “Ugh,” she groaned, shutting her eyes tightly. “I really need to get some more sleep.” She hadn’t slept? That explained the worrying eye-bags under her eyes, and how pale she l